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Looking to add rear screens but I will need a video signal to get a picture on the rear screens. My question is, have any of you successfully added rear screens to your GL? I've seen one online that added some sort of box that gave video out and a HDMI in but I don't know what it was called.
this is asked from time to time it seems. I don't know anything about the wiring but this is what I have to offer. Does it make any sense to install screens that connect to the DVD player up front? With DVDs fast becoming a thing of the past, and technology changing all the time, it seems to me that spending $300 on two Fire 10 tablet (or insert your own tablet here) and two decent head rest mounts would be a better value. From reading posts in this forum, adding those screens aftermarket plus the wiring ends up being thousands of dollars.
this is asked from time to time it seems. I don't know anything about the wiring but this is what I have to offer. Does it make any sense to install screens that connect to the DVD player up front? With DVDs fast becoming a thing of the past, and technology changing all the time, it seems to me that spending $300 on two Fire 10 tablet (or insert your own tablet here) and two decent head rest mounts would be a better value. From reading posts in this forum, adding those screens aftermarket plus the wiring ends up being thousands of dollars.
Just my opinion!
K
Something I did not mention was that the box that gives you video out has 2 additional source inputs and a HDMI in. The one I saw online, the guy was running Netflix in the truck via a firestick
Last edited by 23606mp; Nov 30, 2018 at 12:16 AM.
Reason: Addition to post
A factory installed Rear Entertainment System allows the front COMAND disc video output control/be shown on the One/Both Rear Screen(s) and you can choose to have the the Video Audio from the front to be played over the system speakers - or the Rear Disc can be shown on One/Both Rear Screen's with Audio thru headphones.
Other than that factory system - there is no other add-on that can give your Front COMAND Video/Audio/Control over the rear.
The entire factory add-on system with Front Control can be ordered and installed - the parts alone here in the US are like USD$3500 + about 10hrs labor.
Mercedes also has a "accessory DVD rear add-on"system that adds rear entertainment without Front interface for like USD$2800 her + 4-5hrs labor.
The "Video Interfaces" referenced here are add-on boxes for the front COMAND that add additional video inputs for added camera's and/or HDMI for the front system - has nothing to do with rear DVD system.
There are still makers of Rear Headrest DVD systems that can be added to the back that have DVD/HDMI/etc input... "most" parents now opt for their children to have their own tablets/phone as more affordable/more useful options - grandparents sometimes still ask..
Something I did not mention was that the box that gives you video out has 2 additional source inputs and a HDMI in. The one I saw online, the guy was running Netflix in the truck via a firestick
I've never been much of a fan of brown interiors, but I have to say that this particular Designo color combo looks great! I thought that my black Designo looked the best until I saw this.
I have the factory RSE but want to add something like the firestick to give me better options that half a dozen digitally broadcast TV shows.
Ive thought about a mobile wifi dongle to get me internet in the car, is that all I would need to get the firestick connected to allow my family much more choice in the rear screens?
For most the simplest 2-step solution - (1) buy Amazon tablets and (2) have mobile WiFi either phone linked or add mobile WiFi OBD plug in
If you want to chase the Firestick project - then there are three things to consider... (1) adding HDMI port/input adapter for the Firestick on the front Comand (2) USB power connect for the Firestick - and the console USB ports may or may not have sufficient "juice" - you may need a Cig Adapter/USB-charger (3) and adding mobile WiFi connection ....
Good general overview for car's that have existing HDMI port.....
My car came with the rear entertainment system and nobody uses the darn things. They bring their devices with them for the most part. I’ve even bought the aux to hdmi and the lightning connector to hdmi and they still don’t use it. Do yourself a favor and save your money.
Just FYI, if you have the factory Mercedes multimedia interface port in your center console you can input a composite (AV) signal into the front console screen and if you have the factory rear entertainment, you can also output to the rear screens as well (like watching DVDs).
I already had the Mercedes cord with the aux input, but this would reduce the amount of cable in my center console... just ordered one on eBay to see if it works.
Originally Posted by Momo1020
Description on item state ami mmi 3 av composite for Audi. Do Mercedes and Audi both use the same multimedia connection port? Thanks in advance
Sounds good tranman, please update when the part arrives.
Just as an update, the Audi MMI cable DID NOT WORK. Well, the video worked, but the audio did not. So I assume it's wired a little differently than the Mercedes version. If you already have the Mercedes MMI breakout cable with the 1/8" aux in mini plug, you can use a composite iBook (yes, that old) cable to input a composite signal. Newer TRS/TRRS cables aren't wired the same way as the the iBook cable (I think the grounds are different) so you'll get a garbled video signal.
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